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Caruso Family Racing

Caruso Retains No. 8 Position With Solid Showing at Topeka

TOPEKA, KS – Rookie Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso was .008 of a second too quick in reacting to the starting signal in her Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro today and lost to Aaron Stanfield in the opening round of the 33rd Menard’s NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor at Heartland Motorsports Park.

“You have to give it everything when you are racing at this level,” Caruso said.  “I went up there knowing I had a good race car with this Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro and I got a little too aggressive on the tree.”

The 24-year-old from Denver, North Carolina, had driven her Titan Racing Engines-powered Camaro to the No. 13 qualifying position which had relegated her to the least desirable lane in the first round against the No. 4 qualifier.   Despite the result, an upbeat Caruso now will prepare for her first pro appearance in the Labor Day U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Ind.

“This was a good weekend for us and we are moving in the right direction,” she said.   “We have points-and-a-half (available) in Indy and we will be looking to get our first win at the U.S. Nationals and move up in the points.”

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Topeka Next Stop for Rookie Standout Camrie Caruso

DENVER, NC – With two races left in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season Pro Stock rookie standout Camrie Caruso and the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro are poised to qualify for the 2022 NHRA Countdown and make a run their first Pro Stock world championship. This weekend at the NHRA Menards Nationals presented by Pet Armor Caruso will roll her Titan Racing Engines powered Camaro Pro Stock racecar into Heartland Motorsports Park – Topeka looking to continue their successful rookie year campaign. The first-year pro has already made a name for herself securing her first career No. 1 qualifier and racing to the final round of the SpringNationals in Houston. She has held fast to a position in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock top ten throughout the season and is looking to make a move up the standings with a strong showing this weekend in Topeka.

“We had some tough races in the Western Swing, but we made progress and I think we will keep improving this weekend in Topeka,” said Caruso, who is a third generation drag racer. “(Crew chief) Jim Yates has a strong tune-up and I can’t say enough about the Titan Racing Engines power we have under the hood. I am getting better behind the wheel so we will be ready to go this weekend for sure.”

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CARUSO RACES TO SEATTLE QUARTERFINALS

KENT, WA – Rookie Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso wrapped up the Western Swing with a quarterfinal finish at the NHRA Northwest Nationals today from Pacific Raceways outside of Seattle. The 24-year-old driver powered her Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro past Cristian Cuadra in the first round before losing an incredibly close match-up with Troy “TJ” Coughlin Jr. It was the sixth time this season Caruso, who has Titan Racing Engine power under the hood, has raced to at least the quarterfinals in her young career.

“It was good to get another first round win,” said Caruso. “We have our confidence back and I feel like we have our race car back. We fixed a few things and we are in a good place. We are back to making solid progress. We are going to be good and we’ll keep getting better over these last two regular season races.”

In the opening round facing Cuadra for the third time in her career Caruso was giving up lane choice but not confidence. The rookie driver from Denver, North Carolina, knew her team had used the information gathered from their three qualifying runs to put the Tequila Comisario Camaro in a great position to win. As both cars staged it was Cuadra jumping the start for a redlight disqualification as Caruso launched and made her quickest run of the weekend. The 6.610 second pass was one of the quickest runs of the first round and improved her head-to-head record with Cuadra to 3-0 on the season.

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CARUSO SET TO WRAP UP FIRST WESTERN SWING IN SEATTLE

DENVER, NC – After two back-to-back NHRA national events on the west coast Pro Stock rookie Camrie Caruso understands the tough demands a driver must endure to compete at the highest level of drag racing. The 24-year-old who resides in Denver, North Carolina, has battled the mountains of Colorado and the challenging racing surface of Sonoma as she heads to the final stop of the historic Western Swing, the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceway, outside of Seattle. Racing the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro with enhanced support from NGK backed Shop Squad, Caruso will be looking for a strong finish on the swing to match her hot start to the season.

“We have been working really hard with this Tequila Comisario Chevrolet team and we have just had some tough draws on race day,” said Caruso, who raced to the No. 1 qualifier spot at Houston. “We are a team that has been consistently qualifying in the top half and that makes a difference on Sunday. I know we have the power thanks to Titan Racing Engines and my crew led by crew chief Jim Yates is really good. I am excited to get to a new track and have some new results on the swing.”

Throughout the season Caruso has been steadily improving in all facets of her driving. Before the season started the team worked extensively on a consistent burnout and staging routine. As they moved into the season Caruso has made a concentrated effort to improve on her reaction times.  Last weekend in the first round she unloaded a .023 reaction time in the first round which combined with her quickest run of the weekend was the kind of combination that will win the Tequila Comisario team rounds the rest of the season. Overall Caruso has taken the approach of highlighting the positives and moving on to the next challenge.

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CAMRIE CARUSO READY FOR FIRST TASTE OF SONOMA NATIONALS

DENVER, NC – Located in picturesque northern California wine country, Sonoma Raceway, home of the 34th Sonoma Nationals, will be the second stop of the NHRA Western Swing and another first for Pro Stock rookie standout Camrie Caruso. The third-generation driver, who currently resides in Denver, North Carolina, has taken the Pro Stock category by storm qualifying for every national event, earning her first career No. 1 qualifier and racing to a final round all while managing a rookie team in one of the toughest categories on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

This weekend she will once again be racing the Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro as she chases her first career victory and returns to sea level following the NHRA Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado. The first race on the mountain was a challenge for the young team but Caruso and veteran crew chief Jim Yates took the positives and will translate them to Sonoma Raceway beginning with their first qualifying pass on Friday.

“The Mile High Nationals was a race that tested our team, but I think we will be stronger because we did struggle,” said Caruso, who qualified No. 11 at her first race at Bandimere Speedway. “We are a young team and we are working to get better every race. We have had a lot of success so far this season, but I know we can be better. I am getting better as a driver and the team is getting better. There is so much to learn and process it is a challenge but one that I am up for.”

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MILE HIGH NATIONALS AND WESTERN SWING NEXT TEST FOR ROOKIE CAMRIE CARUSO

DENVER, NC – The next three weeks will be another major test for Pro Stock rookie Camrie Caruso. The 24-year-old driver who makes her home in the other Denver (Denver, North Carolina) will be tackling the NHRA Mile High Nationals for the first time this weekend. The team spent a few days last week testing at Bandimere Speedway to get a handle on the tune up needed to make Caruso’s Tequila Comisario Chevrolet Camaro as powerful and quick as possible. Crew Chief Jim Yates has two victories as a driver on the mountaintop and his experience behind the wheel and making tune-up decisions will be a huge plus for Caruso and her team.

“Jim has been great all season and I have learned a lot very quickly,” said Caruso. “I have an awesome group of people on this team from the Titan Racing Engines guys, to support from GESI, NGK, Sand Haulers of America, Powerbuilt Tools, and VP Racing Lubricants. I also have my dad, Marc, and my Papa (Papa Joe Caruso) supporting and encouraging me. I am excited about racing at Bandimere Speedway this weekend and taking on the Western Swing.”

The three-race stretch which begins this weekend at Bandimere Speedway will give Caruso, who is sitting seventh in points, more opportunity to continue her successful rookie season campaign. Already the young driver who is the favorite for NHRA Rookie of the Year has earned a No.1 qualifier and raced to a final round. She has qualified for every NHRA national event this season and has only started outside the top half of the field one time, a No. 9 start at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals. She is just three rounds out of fourth place with five races before the points reset for the Countdown.

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Kings of Vapor to Reign with Caruso Family Racing in Norwalk

DENVER, NC – First year Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso has not been crowned NHRA Rookie of the Year for 2022 but she is making a strong case through the first seven races of the season. Heading into the NHRA Norwalk Nationals Caruso will be flying the colors of Kings of Vapor, an Ohio-based vapor store and online business that has been a longtime supporter of Caruso Family Racing.

“We have had a great relationship with the guys from Kings of Vapor,” said Caruso. “We have known them for years. We sold Rick Bowling, my old Top Dragster to him and then we drove for him. We won a couple races and they have always been great supporters of our program. They will have some guests at the races this weekend and we are looking forward to an exciting weekend.”

Established in 2013, Kings of Vapor, is a large brick and mortar retail chain, with a complete online store as well, that prides itself on customer service. As a vapor store, not a tobacco shop, they stock a wide selection of  vapes, juice, and accessories. Unlike smoke shops, they focus on assisting those who are interested in quitting smoking. Their knowledgeable staff has a genuine interest in assisting customers to explore an alternative to smoking and answer any and all questions. Kings of Vapor has 16 locations throughout Ohio including Akron, Canton and Central Ohio as well as multiple locations in Florida. They sell a wide range of vape, smoke, CBD and Delta-8 products.

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CARUSO RACES TO QUARTERFINALS AT THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS

BRISTOL, TN – After a two week layoff Camrie Caruso and the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro rolled into Bristol Dragway looking to build momentum heading into the summer. The Caruso Family Racing team continued to show strong performance numbers with their Titan Racing Engine power plant. On Saturday they showed they were going to be a tough competitor on race day posting two of the quickest runs of the day. In Q2, the first run of Saturday, Caruso lit up the scoreboard with a 6.644 second pass that jumped the Denver, North Carolina resident from seventh to second in the qualifying order. She also earned two qualifying bonus points and to close out qualifying she posted the quickest run of the third session, a strong 6.652 second pass to earn three more qualifying bonus points and lock her in as the No. 2 qualifier.

In the first round she took on veteran driver Chris McGaha for the first time in her career. McGaha was first off of the line but Caruso was right beside him and moved around him by the time they got sixty feet down track. She never relinquished the lead and advanced to the quarterfinals with a winning elapsed time of 6.636 seconds, her quickest run of the weekend. Her run was able to earn lane choice over her second round opponent Dallas Glenn.

In a battle between two drivers that will be the future of Pro Stock Caruso was facing her second first time opponent of the day. The reigning Rookie of the Year, Glenn, squared off with Caruso who is the favorite for this year’s top rookie honor. Caruso had a mechanical issue that dramatically impacted the elapsed time on her run and she was forced to watch as Glenn pulled away for the win light.

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CLOSE FIRST ROUND ENDS CARUSO’S DAY EARLY

EPPING, NH – Rookie Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso continued to add experience just six races into her young career during the NHRA New England Nationals from New England Dragway. The 24-year-old driver from Denver, North Carolina, returned to racing action after a six-week layoff driving the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro for the second race in a row. In her last appearance at the SpringNationals the third-generation driver raced to her first career final round following her first career No. 1 qualifying effort.

Caruso continued to show that Houston was not a fluke when it comes to the performance of her Titan Racing Engine powered Camaro Pro Stock race car. In qualifying the rookie powered to the No. 4 spot right off the hauler and kept her performance numbers at the top of the field throughout the weekend. Her run during the second qualifying session was the third quickest of the class and earned her an important qualifying bonus point.

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CAMRIE CARUSO FEATURED ON COVER OF DRAG ILLUSTRATED

DENVER, NC – Showcasing the impressive start of her rookie Pro Stock career Camrie Caruso is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Drag Illustrated. The driver who has represented primary sponsors Right Trailers, Powerbuilt Tools, Procar by SCAT and most recently Sand Haulers of America behind the wheel of her Chevrolet Camaro was recognized for her consistent driving skills on the track, her emerging presence in the media and her team’s recent performance at the Houston SpringNationals where she earned her first career No. 1 qualifier and raced to runner-up honors. The editorial staff at Drag Illustrated dedicates hundreds of hours to developing the Women of Power issue to highlight women working in every corner of the drag racing universe from drivers to crew to track management to promotions.

“We knew Camrie Caruso’s rookie season in NHRA Pro Stock would be a story to follow well before her breakout weekend in Houston,” said Nate Van Wagnen, editor of Drag Illustrated. “But that performance really made a statement, and we knew we had to explore that story on a high level in our 10th annual Women of Power Issue. Kelly Wade did an excellent job sharing that story, allowing Camrie and the people around her to explain in their own words why Camrie’s early success shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

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